A/N: Thank you again for your reviews. I appreciate all of them. Just to clarify, I received more than one message with questions regarding my including humor in the category section for my story. If irony or sarcasm were choices perhaps they would be better descriptors. I guess I have a wry sense of humor more so than a traditional one. I take after Mr. Bennet, and find delight in the ridiculous. I find it amusing when normally rational, intelligent human beings act like bratty children when they are thrown into situations out of their comfort zone. In future chapters, both E & D will behave so badly that you will want to send them to bed without dinner! Don't worry there will be character growth for E &D but not for a long while. Jane's situation obviously was not meant to be humorous but was used as a plot mechanism. I apologize if anyone was offended by her situation.
Darcy stood up suddenly wishing there was somewhere in the small room to hide. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to go but out into the hallway where the Bennet ladies were undoubtedly waiting to pounce. He knew Mr. Bennet was irate and justifiably so. In retrospect, if this were Georgiana instead of Elizabeth he would have been furious.
Mr. Bennet could barely speak but managed to growl, "Sit down Mr. Darcy we are not done here! Were you in a carriage alone with my daughter for six hours?"
"I was." Darcy replied not offering more.
"And why was that? I can't imagine Elizabeth allowing such a thing to happen." Bennet said angrily.
"Well, ah, she, ah, didn't realize I was in the carriage when she entered it." Darcy stammered.
"Oh, so this was just a terrible mistake." Mr. Bennet replied sarcastically.
"Perhaps on Miss Elizabeth's part but not on mine." Darcy admitted sheepishly.
"Mr. Darcy when I asked for the entire story earlier I erroneously believed you would be honest with me. Obviously, I was mistaken. Now I would like every detail of this carriage ride if you please!"
"The day after my proposal and I came across your daughter. She was distraught as she had just received an express from town stating that the elder Miss Bennet was very ill. She was desperate to get to town and I sent my carriage to transport her there with haste. The shades were down. Your daughter did not know I was within." Darcy replied.
"My Jane is ill?" Mr. Bennet questioned frantically, momentarily forgetting his anger with Darcy.
"According to the express she was. When I arrived in London I sent my personal physician to see to her. I do not know anything else. I left for Hertfordshire the next morning." Darcy answered.
"I have heard nothing from the Gardiners. This is very strange. But one dilemma at a time, continue with your tale." Bennet replied.
"I needed to speak with Miss Elizabeth privately and she needed to get to London. I wanted to know if my letter had improved her opinion of me. At the time, it seemed like the most expedient course of action. I assumed that after we spoke she would accept my hand and arriving in London engaged would quell any gossip that would occur." Darcy answered.
"Who else knows of your journey to London." Bennet queried.
"My cousin Richard, my valet and the coachman. They can all be relied upon for their secrecy. They would never say a word. Mr. Gardiner also knows but found out after the fact when we arrived. He believes we are engaged." Darcy answered.
"Does he now? How did he come across this information?" Mr. Bennet snarled at him.
"I informed him when Elizabeth arrived at his home. I had to ensure him that his niece was not dishonored in any way. He was not pleased to say the least but I believe his concern for Miss Jane Bennet was uppermost in his mind at the time. I left his home shortly after and have not spoken with him since." Darcy answered.
"Not dishonored, you say? Bennet added with derision. "I trust Mr. Gardiner implicitly but unfortunately, my wife and younger daughters cannot be relied upon to act rationally and now they know something untoward occurred between you and Elizabeth. If I am correct, they will be preparing to call upon all of our acquaintances in Meryton at this moment to share this news." Mr. Bennet fumed.
"Sir, I, I had no idea anyone was listening. I would not have blurted that out. Do you have any control over your household? Listening at doors is incredibly vulgar behavior. Furthermore, can you not control where they go and what they speak of?" Darcy replied anxiously trying to turn the conversation in another direction.
"Mr. Darcy you are in no place to lecture my family on impropriety at this juncture. I believe you had a story to finish." Bennet lectured.
Darcy nodded his head realizing the hypocrisy of his last statement. He continued on, telling Mr. Bennet almost all of what happened on the journey. He tried to diminish the extent of his kiss with Elizabeth but realized it did not matter. The time alone in the carriage was enough for Mr. Bennet to call him out. He was thankful for the fact that Mr. Bennet was twenty five years his senior and not a renowned swordsman.
Mr. Bennet sat quietly for a good deal of time. Darcy said not a word and stared at the ground wonderingly silently if Mr. Bennet would now insist upon a marriage. He had still hoped that he could convince Elizabeth to marry him of her own accord eventually. If a marriage was forced he still won but at what cost?
"Forgive me Elizabeth", Mr. Bennet whispered. "Mr. Darcy, it seems that there is no other solution to this conundrum but your marriage to my daughter. She will see this as a betrayal on my part and it pains me to insist upon it but I see no other way. For the sake of my family's reputation this marriage will occur. Now, we will face my wife and daughters together. You will smile, nod and act generally agreeable. Follow my lead and do not make any other pronouncements that could make this situation worse. Do you understand?" Bennet asked severely.
"Sir, I take great offense at your tone. I am a grown man and am not used to being lectured by one so wholly unconnected with me." Darcy replied haughtily.
"Excuse me?" Mr. Bennet thundered. "We will be most closely connected from this point forward and your behavior thus far has not convinced me of your maturity or good sense! You will follow my lead!" Surprisingly, Darcy just nodded and silently followed Mr. Bennet from the room. He would be married to his Elizabeth so he could see the benefit in allowing this small compromise.
The parlor was a cacophony of shrill female voices. The words compromise, marriage and ten thousand a year, and why not Jane were being thrown about randomly. The ladies did not even stop to recognize the presence of the gentlemen. Very uncharacteristically, Mr. Bennet bellowed, "SILENCE!". His wife and daughters were frozen and stared at the patriarch with shocked expressions on their faces.
The silence lasted for less than a minute. Mrs. Bennet began caterwauling, "Oh, dear, that girl, that Elizabeth has been."
"I believe I asked for silence Mrs. Bennet.! I have an announcement to make and you will all sit down quietly and listen." Mr. Bennet bellowed. The ladies did as they were bid not knowing what had happened to upend his normally calm demeanor.
"Mr. Darcy had come to ask for Elizabeth's hand in marriage. I have granted my consent." Mr. Bennet stated forcefully.
"Papa, I heard him say he kissed her!" Lydia blurted out rudely. Kitty sat next to her partner in crime giggling uncontrollably.
"Young lady, we will address your eavesdropping later. It is perfectly acceptable behavior to celebrate a marriage proposal with a kiss. I want to hear nothing else from you at present." Mr. Bennet said as he glared at his youngest daughter. Lydia looked quite offended by her father's rebuke but complied.
"Mr. Darcy, you have my congratulations." Mary Bennet offered primly.
"Thank you miss." Mr. Darcy replied. He could not for the life of him remember her first name. He never paid her much attention in the past. The only thing he could remember about her was her pitiful performance at the piano forte but at least she had some manners.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Darcy congratulations but I must ask, you have met my daughter Jane have you not?" Mrs. Bennet babbled.
"Yes, I have Madam." Darcy replied not knowing where this conversation was headed.
"Then I don't understand. Are you sure you didn't come here to ask for my," Mrs. Bennet continued. Mr. Bennet cut her off before she could continue knowing she was about to nonsensically try convince the man to marry Jane.
"There has been no misunderstanding. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth got to know each other in Kent over the past few months and are engaged." Bennet said with a peculiar look at Darcy when he used the words "got to know". Mr. Darcy must leave for London at once. I will be following him in a few days as we have much to discuss. Mr. Darcy please follow me." Bennet ordered.
Darcy attempted to depart the parlor gracefully and farewelled the ladies quickly but politely. As he entered his carriage, Mr. Bennet did no more that nod his head and return to the house.
Mr. Bennet informed his family that he would depart for London within a few days. They all starting exclaiming of the delights of London and what they would pack. He found some perverse joy in telling them they were not welcome to join him. The females of his family were quite out of sorts at his refusal. They continued to pester him until he sternly told them that he would brook no argument on the matter and they would stay at home. He somewhat appeased his wife by saying he would be discussing the wedding date and marriage settlement with Mr. Darcy and would send her minute details by post. He was surprised that this quieted her because he was known to be a most awful correspondent but she stopped her harangue and that was all that mattered to him.
After he returned to his library, Hill entered with an express from the Gardiners. He eagerly ripped it open and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Jane was out of danger. He wondered why they did not send word sooner of Jane's ill health. There was no mention of Elizabeth beyond her presence in their home. He would be in London in a few days and would find out the particulars of Jane's situation then. He decided on a small act of revenge and did not send the Gardiners an express warning them of his arrival.
He was exhausted by his unusual show of belligerence with Mr. Darcy and his family. He decided to relax with a good book and try to think no more of the situation at present. His choice of literature however, betrayed him. As he read the words of the Bard something jumped out at him from the tome, "The Foole doth thinke he is wise, but the wiseman knowes himselfe to be a Foole". He was convinced he made the right decision regarding Elizabeth but so had the pompous Mr. Darcy in orchestrating the events of the past few days. He wondered in the case of himself and Mr. Darcy, which of them was the fool? It didn't matter he thought, his Elizabeth was going to eviscerate both of them.